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(No Model.)

G. W. 000K.

ROPE LOCK. No. 324,984. Patented Aug. 25, 1885.

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we sa e6; 27.0126713271 Unirse STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE YV. COOK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MADISON B. KENNEDY, OF SAME PLACE.

ROPE-LOCK.

SJPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 324,984, dated August 25, 1885.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, GEORGE W. COOK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Rope- Lock, of which the following is a specification.

The nature of my invention consists, principally, in producing an automatic rope-lock which will grip and hold two cords or ropes when placed side by side, more particularly intended for and rendered useful in raising and lowering awnings where two cords are operated together.

The objects of my improvements are, rst, to supersede the necessity of holding fast to the ropes, either with one hand or the other, during the entire time oi' raising an awning, but to enable a person to release his hold at any point and still retain that already taken up; second, to lfurnish a more convenient, rapid, and reliable manner of fastening the rope at any point than by braiding or weaving it around a block or hooks, as at present most common. I accomplish these objects by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a front view of my improved device. Figs. 2 and 3 are central vertical sections in different positions, Fig. 2 showing rope caught, and Fig. 3 showing device open7 so as to permit the rope to move. Fig. 4 is a detailed View showing the face of the clutch.

Similar letters represent similar parts. The entire device with all parts attached is represented in Fig. l, the dotted lines showing the position of two cords placed between the clutch B and the frame A. A and a represent a bracket'shapcd frame, inside of which the movable parts are attached. B is the main body of the clutch. B is the linger or thumb piece projecting from the clutch. C is a bolt or pin, around which a spring is coiled. c is a double wire spring bearing against the clutch, the fixed ends passing through the sides of the frame, as shown at a in Figs. 2 and 3. d a are the sides ol the frame.

The clutch B is hinged between the two sides of the frame by means of a bolt or pin, as shown at B2 in Figs. 2 and 3.

I make the frame A and clutch B out of cast-iron or any other metallic substance, using brass wire for the spring c.

The most essential part of my invention consists in thc form ofthe clutch and the manner of operating it.` The form of the face of the clutch (which is that part coming in contact with the rope) is very essential, for it will readily be seen,` as shown in Fig. 4, that from b to b the face of the clutch vforms a narrowing ratchetface groove, and also in Figs. 2 and 3 an eccentric shape and act-ion of the clutch is shown. By this form of clutch,where two ropes or cords are used, they are brought in close contact with eachother by the action of the narrowing groove, and also wedged between the clutch and the back of the frame by the ratchet and eccentric form of clutch, and although that part of one cord or rope which is under the clutch may be smaller than the part at the side of it, as is often the case, neither can slip, for by means of the spring c the clutch has a slight bearing upon the cords D at all times, except when relieved by pressing upon the finger or thumb piece B, which is provided for that purpose and indispensable while lowering an awning. Therefore, with this pressure from the spring and the additional tension and rising tendency of the rope against the clutch, the action of the parts is to wedge the ropes together and against the back of the frame, and thereby form a perfect lock which will operate equally well upon one or two ropes.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A rope-lock for holding two ropes by the use ol" but one eccentric clutch, consisting of the frame A, the eccentric clutch B, provided with the thumbpiece B and the narrowing groove, and the double wire spring C, all in combination substantially as set forth.

GEORGE IV. COOK.

Vitnesses:

N. N. CHAPIN, CALEB W. LELAND. 

